Performance Details

Department of Public Safety - Criminal Justice Information Systems Program

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Mission

Provide and maintain centralized criminal record and identification information.

Core Services

• Ensure arrest/charge information is received by the repository within five working days.
• Ensure sex offenders known to the Department of Public Safety have provided required information.
• Reduce the instances of missing disposition information for criminal cases over two years old.

Mission Results	Core Services
A: Criminal history records are complete, accurate, and timely.  Details > TARGET #1: 100% of Alaska criminal history records, disposed within the last year, in the state repository are supported by positive fingerprint identification	A1: Ensure arrest/charge information is received by the repository within five working days.  Details > TARGET #1: 100% of arrest/charge information is received by the repository within five working days
Mission Results	Core Services
B: Information regarding statewide sex offenders is available to law enforcement and the public.  Details >	B1: Ensure sex offenders known to the Department of Public Safety have provided required information.  Details > TARGET #1: 100% of sex offenders known to the department submit required documentation on quarterly or annual basis per AS 12.63 (Registration of Sex Offenders)
Mission Results	Core Services
C: State and national criminal justice information is available to state and private entities for use in determining employment or licensing eligibility.  Details > TARGET #1: State and national criminal justice information is released to authorized entities within 10 working days of receipt of the request	C1: Reduce the instances of missing disposition information for criminal cases over two years old.  Details > TARGET #1: 100% of missing dispositions for criminal cases over two years old are located and entered into the criminal history record repository.

Performance Detail

Target #1: 100% of Alaska criminal history records, disposed within the last year, in the state repository are supported by positive fingerprint identification Percentage of Alaska Criminal History Records Supported by Positive Fingerprint Identification Fiscal Year YTD Total Target FY 2020 68% 100% FY 2019 70 100 FY 2018 66% 100% FY 2017 63% 100% FY 2016 66% 100% FY 2015 65% 100% FY 2014 68% 100% FY 2013 66% 100% FY 2012 69% 100% FY 2011 69% 100% FY 2010 66% 100% FY 2009 69% 100% FY 2008 70% 100% FY 2007 70% 100% Analysis of results and challenges: The table shows the percentage of disposed criminal charges added during the stated fiscal year for which positive fingerprint identification was made. Higher percentages by fiscal year indicate improved compliance with AS 12.80.060 (Fingerprinting). In FY2020, the target of 100% was not met. Due to a hiring freeze, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) was unable to fill a key position responsible for outreach to the Department of Corrections (DOC) when Superior Court judgments are received for individuals who have not yet been fingerprinted for the crime; However the DPS continues to encourage and support local law enforcement agencies and DOC in the implementation of live scan fingerprint systems and compliance with AS 12.80.060 The DPS is also working to support local law enforcement agencies and the DOC on updating their live scan fingerprint systems to the Windows-10 operating system, a critical update that must be completed as earlier versions of the operating system are no longer supported by Microsoft. Increased compliance with AS 12.80.060 will continue to depend on the commitment of DOC and local law enforcement to obtain rolled fingerprints of arrested subjects every time an arrest occurs. DPS will work with these agencies and the Criminal Justice Information Advisory Board to improve compliance with the law. In early FY2020, training was offered at several criminal justice and non-criminal agencies to help increase the accuracy of submitted fingerprint card submissions and to explain the importance of fingerprint submissions for criminal justice agencies; the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a temporary suspension on training efforts.

Target #1: 100% of arrest/charge information is received by the repository within five working days % of Arrest/Charge Information Received by Criminal Records and Identification via Fingerprint Card Submission within 5 Working Days Fiscal Year YTD Total Target FY 2020 0 100% FY 2019 75% 100% FY 2018 69% 100% FY 2017 65% 100% FY 2016 73% 100% FY 2015 69% 100% FY 2014 67% 100% FY 2013 74% 100% FY 2012 79% 100% FY 2011 79% 100% FY 2010 77% 100% FY 2009 75% 100% FY 2008 77% 100% FY 2007 68% 100% Analysis of results and challenges: The records and identification bureau monitors and audits the quality and timeliness of fingerprints and demographic data submitted by booking agencies, and provides instruction to those requiring additional training on the proper completion of arrest fingerprint cards. With the successful implementation of the fingerprint technician training program, the two recent graduates of the program were able to provide onsite training to several criminal justice agencies throughout the state on using LiveScan devices, fingerprinting techniques, and the importance of obtaining fingerprints each time a person is arrested on new charges in FY2019 and FY2020, until the COVID-19 pandemic caused the onsite training to be temporarily suspended. Additionally, having a fully staffed team of fingerprint technicians allows for more timely processing of fingerprint card submissions. One of the challenges for DPS has been the end of life of the existing criminal history audit application in FY2019. Audits had been conducted annually on the records submitted to and entered into the criminal history repository to verify timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of records by partner agencies including state and local law enforcement, state and municipal prosecutors, the Courts, and the Department of Corrections. A new audit application has been developed by DPS programmers and acceptance testing of the new application has recently been completed. The new application is now in production and audits will resume some time in FY2021, dependent on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Target #1: 100% of sex offenders known to the department submit required documentation on quarterly or annual basis per AS 12.63 (Registration of Sex Offenders) Percentage of Sex Offenders in Compliance Fiscal Year Known Sex Offenders Offenders in Compliance Percentage Total FY 2020 3422 -2.81% 3217 -3.1% 94% FY 2019 3,521 -0.2% 3,320 -0.48% 94% FY 2018 3,528 +1.67% 3,336 +2.02% 95% FY 2017 3,470 +1.67% 3,270 -0.34% 94% FY 2016 3,413 +3.42% 3,281 +2.95% 96% FY 2015 3,300 +4.23% 3,187 +4.25% 96% FY 2014 3,166 +2.49% 3,057 +2.14% 97% FY 2013 3,089 +4.32% 2,993 +4.87% 97% FY 2012 2,961 +4.44% 2,854 +3.41% 96% FY 2011 2,835 +5.86% 2,760 +7.35% 97% FY 2010 2,678 +5.85% 2,571 +7.75% 96% FY 2009 2,530 -41.38% 2,386 -37.01% 94% FY 2008 4,316 +1.31% 3,788 +1.07% 89% FY 2007 4,260 3,748 88% Analysis of results and challenges: On July 25, 2008, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that the requirement to register as a sex offender for people who committed sex crimes prior to the enactment of the sex offender registration law violated Alaska's constitution. The number of offenders required to register under AS 12.63 decreased significantly in consequence. Since the court's ruling, each offender's registration requirement has been re-evaluated. In 2018, an Alaska Supreme Court ruling changed how out of state sex offenses were reviewed in determining registration requirements in Alaska. As a result of this ruling, 37 offenders have been removed from the registry in FY2019 as their offenses were determined by the Department of Law to not be similar to an Alaska offense requiring registration. The Supreme Court ruling requires nearly all new offenders with out of state convictions be reviewed to determine if registration is required in Alaska. The department works in coordination with local law enforcement agencies and the US Marshal's Office to attempt contact with sex offenders who are out of compliance. This contact has resulted in a higher compliance rate. Collaborative efforts between the Marshal's Office, the Department of Public Safety, and local law enforcement statewide to locate and contact all known sex offenders in the state and check their compliance have had a positive impact on the safety of Alaskans. A 2019 Alaska Supreme Court ruling requires the registry to implement a relief from registration process to allow registered sex offenders to appeal their registration requirements upon demonstration that they are no longer a threat to public safety or the community. This decision will have an impact on the Sex Offender Registration Office processes, but the full impact is unknown at this time as the appeal process for the relief from registration has not been determined or implemented. The Department of Public Safety is working in close coordination with the Department of Law to determine how best to establish this appeal process, which may require legislative intervention.

Target #1: State and national criminal justice information is released to authorized entities within 10 working days of receipt of the request Average Number of Days to Disseminate Criminal History Information by Criminal Records and Identification Fiscal Year YTD Total FY 2020 5 0% FY 2019 5 -16.67% FY 2018 6 -69.23% FY 2017 19.5 +290% FY 2016 5 -44.44% FY 2015 9 -75% FY 2014 36 +200% FY 2013 12 +200% FY 2012 4 +33.33% FY 2011 3 0% FY 2010 3 -97.2% FY 2009 107 +50.7% FY 2008 71 +115.15% FY 2007 33 Analysis of results and challenges: FY2017, turnaround time was severely impacted by staffing shortages in both the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) Section and the Records Section. Staffing resources in the Records Section were readjusted in the latter part of FY2017, and a restructuring of the ABIS Section occurred in FY2018. In FY2019, the ABIS training program had their 'graduate' with a second one set to graduate in early FY2020. In FY2021, the ABIS system will be upgraded and this coupled with the staffing stability is anticipated to further reduce processing times. However, the entire fingerprinting process relies on several outdated programming components and processes which will continue to have a negative impact until each can be replaced or updated. The DPS fingerprinting process is comprised of some key components based on significantly outdated technology platforms that have been a challenge for limited programming staff to resolve and continue to support. Federal grant funding has been awarded to in FY2020 to begin work to replace the criminal history repository, a crucial first step to restructuring the fingerprinting process and eventually replacing outdated components. Related links:    • Background Check Requests homepage

Target #1: 100% of missing dispositions for criminal cases over two years old are located and entered into the criminal history record repository. Number of Missing Dispositions from Charges Two to Six Years Old Fiscal Year # Missing Disposition % Change from Prior Year FY 2020 13361 +35.25% +35% FY 2019 9,879 -1.12% -1.12% FY 2018 9,991 -9.51% -10% FY 2017 11,041 +21.05% 21% FY 2016 9,121 +3.44% 3% FY 2015 8,818 +2.56% 3% FY 2014 8,598 -36.66% -37% FY 2013 13,575 -10.98% -11% FY 2012 15,250 -16.55% -17% FY 2011 18,274 -9.48% -11% FY 2010 20,188 +10.28% 10% FY 2009 18,306 12% Analysis of results and challenges: Alaska Statute 12.62 requires the Alaska Court System and prosecuting agencies to report the disposition of a criminal case. The chart (above) demonstrates the percent of change between fiscal years on the number of instances of missing dispositions at the repository for charges that are two to six years old. Analysis has shown that charges less than two years old that have missing dispositions in the repository are generally active cases. Locating dispositions on charges that are greater than six years old can be very difficult, if not impossible. Attempts to locate these dispositions are made if there is a pressing need. It may take weeks or months to locate a disposition that is very old. Today, reporting of dispositions is completed using electronic mail, however, some paper documents are still submitted . The department has also assigned a full-time technician to locate and update missing disposition information, focusing primarily on felony arrest charges without a disposition noted in the criminal history repository. While this grant funded position has remained filled in FY2019 and FY2020, vacancies in other positions in the unit have resulted in a significant delay in processing arrest and disposition information. As positions are filled and staff are trained, it is anticipated the backlogs in processing dismissal reports and criminal complaint and disposition forms will be resolved, significantly decreasing the number of missing dispositions in the repository. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in numerous delays in criminal proceedings.

Current as of November 16, 2020